Publicis HealthVerified Job Source

Sr. Art Director

Toronto, ON
On-site
Posted Sep 3, 2026
1 position

$100,000–$105,000 / year

Opens an external site

Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Senior · 5+ years
Apply by: Oct 3, 2026
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Seniority: Mid-Senior level

Job summary

Lead the visual direction and execution of integrated campaigns across multiple channels for healthcare and pharmaceutical clients. Partner with cross-functional teams to translate strategic briefs into creative concepts while mentoring junior and intermediate designers.

Job details

Publicis is an omni-channel communications agency with over 600 employees across our Canadian operations. The office is the largest in our industry in Canada and boasts talent across various disciplines of marketing and advertising expertise. Publicis carries a balanced split of Canadian, U.S. and Global clients for which we are Agency of Record. Publicis supports a range of D&I actions through our Driving Change team as well as giving back to the community through a long-standing participation in the Out of the Cold Program. With a strong, active and familial culture, Pub United is the agency’s social club, hosting events as wide reaching as Curling, Trivia Nights and more. Overview We’re looking for a Senior Art Director with experience across the Canadian and U.S. healthcare landscape to help shape bold, effective work for a diverse roster of health and pharmaceutical clients. This is a hands-on role for a visual storyteller who thrives on building ideas from concept to execution; crafting compelling, cross-channel communications that drive campaigns, build brands, and perform across multiple platforms and verticals. The ideal candidate brings strong conceptual thinking, a sharp design eye, a collaborative mindset, and an uncompromising passion for craft and quality. Responsibilities Lead the visual direction of campaigns across multiple channels (print, OOH, digital, social, experiential) Translate strategic briefs into strong, distinctive creative concepts Set and maintain high visual standards across all brand touchpoints Own art direction from concept through final production Partner closely with Copy, Strategy, and Account teams to shape ideas early Present work clearly and confidently to internal teams and clients Mentor and guide intermediate and junior designers/art directors Provide clear, constructive feedback to elevate team output Ensure work aligns with brand guidelines while pushing creative boundaries Oversee photography, illustration, typography, and motion direction Collaborate with producers and vendors to manage timelines and deliverables Review and approve final assets for quality, consistency, and craft Stay current on design, culture, and industry trends to inform creative work Contribute to pitches, new business efforts, and creative sell-through Balance creative ambition with practical constraints (budget, timelines, platforms) Qualifications 6+ years of professional experience in design and art direction Strong portfolio demonstrating concept-driven work and high craft Pharma advertising experience is preferred Experience leading visual execution across integrated campaigns Proven ability to take work from concept to final production Deep understanding of typography, layout, colour, and composition Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator); Figma a strong plus Experience directing photography, illustration, and other visual collaborators Strong presentation and storytelling skills Ability to give and receive constructive creative feedback Comfortable working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments Experience mentoring junior and intermediate creatives Strong organizational and time-management skills Additional Information Salary Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $105,000 per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data. AI Use We use artificial intelligence tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analysing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognised by people. Publicis Canada is committed to building a diverse workforce representative of our community. We encourage and are pleased to consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital / family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, disability or persons who may require an accommodation, to apply. If you require a specific accommodation please contact Human Resources.

What you’ll do

Requirements

Requires over 6 years of professional experience in design and art direction, preferably within the pharma advertising sector. Must be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and possess a strong portfolio demonstrating high-craft, concept-driven work.